[Parasitic helminths as medicines].

Many recent epidemiologic and experimental data showed immunomodulatory action of several helminths. Of particular interest have been the results demonstrating that helminths infections are able to inhibit the development of autoimmune processes and pathology in animal experimental models, and probably in humans. The article presents and discusses selected aspects of this novel therapeutic approach which seems particularly important for combat a dramatic rise in the incidence of allergy and autoimmune diseases in the West.